Meta Launches AI Video Generator, Competing with OpenAI and Google

Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. has introduced a new artificial intelligence tool, Movie Gen, that can generate or edit videos based on simple text prompts, intensifying competition with rivals like OpenAI and Google in the race to build the world’s most advanced AI technology.

Video Generation Capabilities

Movie Gen allows users to create videos up to 16 seconds long based on text input. It can also generate audio for or edit existing videos, and even create custom videos from a single photo of a real person. Currently, the tool is available only to select Meta employees and a few outside partners, including filmmakers, with plans to integrate it into Meta’s apps, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, by next year.

Driving Engagement with AI

Meta executives are still exploring the best way to implement the technology into its platforms, aiming for Movie Gen to encourage more video creation and engagement. According to Connor Hayes, Meta's vice president of generative AI products, the tool is expected to be fun, helpful for creators, and beneficial for overall engagement in Meta's suite of apps, though the product's final form is still under development.

Competition in AI Video Generation

Meta is not alone in this AI-driven video space. Microsoft-backed OpenAI introduced its video generation tool, Sora, earlier this year, capable of creating videos up to a minute long. Similarly, Google's DeepMind unveiled Veo, another video generation tool which can create videos 1 min in length and beyond, as tech giants focus on advancing AI’s ability to handle complex media formats beyond text generation.

Addressing Challenges and Ethical Concerns

Although Movie Gen is not ready for public use due to current limitations — such as taking too long to generate videos — Meta is also addressing critical safety concerns. One key issue is preventing the misuse of personalized videos, ensuring users cannot create inappropriate content featuring others without consent. Meta is working on solutions like watermarks to clearly identify AI-generated videos and mitigate potential misuse, such as the spread of deepfakes.

Meta’s Long-Term AI Strategy

AI has become central to Meta’s long-term strategy, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasizing its role in driving both user engagement and revenue growth. While AI currently enhances content algorithms to show users more relevant posts and ads, Zuckerberg envisions AI playing an even bigger role in Meta's future products, including smart glasses and other wearables.

What This Means for the AI Industry

Meta’s entry into the AI video generation race underscores the growing importance of generative AI in shaping future content creation. As competition heats up between Meta, OpenAI, and Google, advancements in AI video technology will likely set new benchmarks for creativity, efficiency, and safety in digital media. The continued development of these tools has the potential to transform industries reliant on video content, empowering creators and businesses alike. However, it also presents new ethical challenges, particularly around privacy and deepfake prevention, that companies must address as the technology evolves.